Agenda item

(A discussion with the Senior Manager of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership)

The Committee received a detailed presentation from the Senior Manager of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP), who provided an overview of the Partnership’s activities, performance data, and strategic priorities. The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership Annual Report 2025 had been circulated with the agenda.

The presentation began with an acknowledgement of the emotive nature of road safety, emphasising that behind every statistic was a personal tragedy affecting families and communities. The LRSP was established in 2000and had evolved into a multi-agency body comprising Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire County Council, National Highways, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Members were informed that in 2024, there were 52 fatalities and 379 serious injuries on Lincolnshire’s roads. The majority of incidents occurred on rural roads, with male drivers disproportionately represented. High-risk groups included young drivers (aged 17–24), mature drivers (aged 60+) motorcyclists and pedal cyclists. A positive trend was reported for 2025, with 22 fatalities recorded to date, compared to 38 at the same point in the previous year. Serious injuries had also declined by approximately 7% year-on-year.

The Committee was briefed on LRSP’s operational activities, which included:

·       Engineering interventions at high-risk junctions, with over 1,000 sites assessed annually and 78 road safety audits completed in 2024.

·       Speed enforcement through 10 average speed camera systems, 37 static cameras and approximately 100 mobile enforcement sites.

·       Operation Octane, targeting motorcycle safety through education and enforcement.

·       Community Speed Watch, involving 298 participating parishes, 107 trained volunteer groups and over 45,000 warning letters issued since 2018.

·       Operation Snap, enabling the submission of dashcam footage by the public, resulting in 995 processed offences in 2024.

Education and engagement activities included:

·        Delivery of national driver offender retraining schemes, including speed awareness courses.

·        School-based programmes reaching over 20,000 pupils in 2024, covering pedestrian safety, in-car behaviour, and young driver awareness.

·        The 2Fast2Soon theatre production, aimed at sixth-form students, highlighting the consequences of risky driving behaviour.

·        Campaigns such as “Receiving the Message” and “Ellen’s Story”, which used real-life experiences to promote road safety awareness.

·        During consideration of the report, Members raised a number of queries and observations relating to road safety enforcement, education, and strategic planning.

Concerns were expressed regarding the detection of uninsured and untaxed vehicles. It was confirmed that current speed camera van technology did not support this function; however, the Partnership had agreed to explore the integration of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) capabilities and report back to the Committee.

The scale and impact of Community Speed Watch participation was discussed. Officers confirmed the initiative’s effectiveness in raising awareness and reducing repeat offences, noting that third warning letters were delivered in person by police officers.

A request was made for a breakdown of fatality data involving drink and drug driving. Officers agreed to provide this information in writing. Further queries were raised about the role of vehicle safety improvements in reducing casualty figures. The Partnership referenced the Safe System approach, which promoted shared responsibility across road users, vehicle design, infrastructure and enforcement.

The reduction in Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) figures was welcomed, and the importance of active travel was highlighted. Reference was made to European models where legal responsibility in collisions often favoured vulnerable road users. Officers acknowledged recent changes to the Highway Code and confirmed the Partnership’s commitment to promoting cyclist and pedestrian safety through education and engagement.

Additional discussion included:

·        The estimated cost of a road fatality, reported at £2.4 million.
Ongoing concerns regarding junction safety at Hubbard’s Bridge, with a review currently underway.

·        The development of a new Road Safety Strategy for Lincolnshire, based on the Safe System model, covering:

o   Safer behaviours and people

o   Safer speeds

o   Safer roads

o   Safer Vehicles

o   Post-collision learning and care

The Committee welcomed the report and expressed appreciation for the work of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership. Members requested that further data and updates on enforcement and education initiatives be brought to future meetings to support ongoing scrutiny and inform future recommendations.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.